Temporary Residency in Mexico: Immigration Lawyer.

Is this for you?

• You plan to move to Mexico and expect to stay longer than six months.
• You are retired and want to live in Mexico on pension or savings from abroad.
• You work remotely for a company outside Mexico and have steady income.
• You have a job offer in Mexico, or you are married to a Mexican citizen or a resident.

General requirements

Valid passport

It should be valid long enough to cover the process and, ideally, most of the period you are requesting. If it is close to expiring, renew it before you start.

Application form and photos

The visa application form and photos in the format your consulate requires. Every consulate runs its own appointment system, so we check yours before you book.

Proof of your chosen route

This is the core of the application. Routes include financial solvency (income or savings), a job offer, family ties, or retirement pension, among others. Each one needs different documents.

Bank statements or income letters

For the solvency route, you submit bank statements or income documents covering a set period, meeting the minimum amounts in the current INM guidelines (Lineamientos). This is where many applicants stumble.

Foreign documents in proper form

Certificates or letters issued outside Mexico usually need an apostille or legalization and, if not in Spanish, a translation by a certified translator. This takes time, so start early.

Consular interview

The consulate may interview you to confirm that your situation matches your paperwork. We prepare you to answer clearly and consistently.

Exact amounts, look-back periods and documents depend on the route, the consulate and the guidelines in force. In your consultation we confirm which ones apply to you.

Step-by-step process

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose the right route

   Before you gather a single paper, we review your situation and pick the route your facts support best. Applying under the wrong route is one of the most common reasons for a refusal.

2. 2

   Step 2: Build and review the file

   We collect documents, check apostilles and translations, and make sure names, dates and amounts match across every paper.

3. 3

   Step 3: Consulate appointment and interview

   You book an appointment at the Mexican consulate that covers your residence. If approved, the consulate places a temporary residence visa in your passport, valid for a limited window to enter Mexico.

4. 4

   Step 4: Enter Mexico

   You travel to Mexico on that visa within its validity. At the port of entry, immigration officers check your document and give you an immigration form. Keep it, because you need it for the exchange.

5. 5

   Step 5: Exchange at the INM within 30 days

   You have 30 calendar days from entry to go to the INM, complete the procedure, pay the official fees, and give fingerprints and a photo. If you miss the window, the visa stops being usable for residency.

6. 6

   Step 6: Receive your resident card

   The INM issues your temporary resident card. From then on you must report changes of address, marital status or employment, and plan your renewal.

Estimated timelines

Common mistakes

• Entering Mexico as a tourist and trying to convert to residency later, when your route does not allow it from inside the country.
• Submitting bank statements with movements that do not match your stated income, or balances that do not cover the required period.
• Missing the 30-day exchange window because you wanted to settle in first. It is a legal deadline, not a suggestion.
• Bringing documents without an apostille, without a translation, or with names spelled differently on each paper.
• Hiring someone who promises to 'get' you residency without explaining the route or giving you a copy of your file.

What our support includes

• An initial consultation to define your route, the exact document list and a timeline.
• Document-by-document review before you submit anything.
• Preparation for the consular interview.
• Support through the exchange: online form, appointment and review of your immigration form.
• Direct contact with the lead attorney, in English or Spanish, by video call.
• Representation if the INM or a consulate issues a denial, through administrative review, a nullity suit or amparo when appropriate.

Fees are explained after the consultation, based on your case.

Questions about this process